There was tension at the EKITI State University Teaching Hospital (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti as suspected hoodlums destroyed some facilities at the hospital and stole a corpse suspected to be the father of one of the hooligans.
The development caused panic in the medical facility and led the Association of Resident Doctors at the hospital to declare an indefinite strike action on Monday.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Medical Director, Professor Kayode Olabanji and signed by the President of the Association, Dr Famous Adeyemi, the association said, “The above-named association writes to notify you of the decision of the emergency congress held today to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect.
“This follows the actions of hoodlums who stormed the accident and emergency unit of the hospital in the early hours of today and assaulted some members of the association, destroyed several hospital properties and stole a corpse during the attack.
“This attack is happening at a time when our members are showing understanding with the state government on the non-implementation of our demands on improved welfare vis-a-vis being faced with work overload and exhaustion, which is as a result of poor remuneration, pay disparity, and the attending effect of local brain drain.
“We wish to use this opportunity to call on the management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice for their actions.
“We also implore the state government to, as a matter of urgency, attend to our pending demands, which border on improving the welfare of our members.
“We implore the management and the government to provide a lasting solution to these incessant assaults on our members and ensure safety when they are at their duty post.
“We call on the state assembly to enact a law to criminalise assault on health workers in Ekiti State. The strike will not be called off until our demands are met.”
The incident was confirmed by the spokesperson in charge of the University Teaching Hospital, Rolake Adewumi.
According to Adewumi, operatives of the State Police Command have been drafted to the hospital to prevent further breakdowns of law and order.
She disclosed further that the state police commissioner has since launched a manhunt on the perpetrators with a vow to ensure that they are arrested and be made to face the wrath of the law.
In his reaction, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Professor Kayode Olabanji, who condemned the invasion of the facility by the hoodlums, said the institution would do everything possible to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.
According to Him, the management has stationed four armed policemen at the Accident and Emergency as well as two armed policemen at the main gate to strengthen the security of the hospital until further notice.
He pointed out that the Division Police Officer in charge of Oke-Ila Division, SP Sesan Falade, has also assured frequent patrol of the hospital premises.
“Also, the EKSUTH boss noted that the management and the DPO had met with the State Chairman of the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria, Mr Sunday Adeola, and mandated him to produce the ring leader because the management heard that the person involved is a member of the association.
“Prof. Olabanji, therefore, appealed to the members of staff to calm down as steps are being taken to ensure that such incidents do not occur again, saying the management will not tolerate any act of molestation of its staff while discharging their duties,” the statement read.